October 3 Proverbs 24:5-14 Philippians 4:2-23 Jeremiah 6; 7:1-29
Proverbs 24:5-14
Finding wisdom is good for you. It is better than physical strength. Proverbs warn us to be careful about who we get advice from. We should seek counsel from multiple qualified advisors. We are compelled to rescue people headed to their deaths. Claiming ignorance of their spiritual plight is not an acceptable excuse to God. We read about this in Proverbs 24:11-12. It connects well with the instruction Jesus gave Paul that is described in Acts 26:14-18 (and explained in Romans 2:1-8). Today we can share the purpose of bringing people to Jesus Christ for their own rescue. Please read these passages and consider what this means to you. Each of us carries a spiritual purpose every day. One day we will give an account of how we carried the spiritual blessing of Jesus.
Philippians 4:2-23
Paul calls the Philippians to enjoy a state of happiness from their relationship with God. Looking toward the return of Jesus he calms anxiety and induces prayer with thanksgiving. Peace comes from choosing joy in this way. This peace can bring protection to what we are thinking and how we are feeling. We must choose to focus our thoughts on what is “true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise”. The God of peace is with us. From this, Paul learned to live at peace in any situation. This is why he could write, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength”. From His glorious riches, God will provide for all the needs of those who choose Courageous Generosity. Today our response to this should include the motivation for us to be in a consistent conversation with God. Let’s abandon any fixation on our worries. Let’s bring our requests to God. Let’s thank God for all He has done. Then God will bring peace as a guiding influence in our lives. Let’s focus on good things as we follow Jesus. God will take care of us.
Jeremiah 6; 7:1-29
After seeing generations of His people reject Him and worship other gods, our Creator God has grown tired of holding back His anger. Through many prophets (and now Jeremiah) God has called for repentance and warned of punishment. In their rebellion, the Israelites are proud of their Temple, treating God with superstition. They believed that the Temple would keep them from God’s judgment. God debunks this myth, with words Jesus quoted, referring to it as a “den of thieves”. This is aimed at their rejection of a relationship with God in favor of bad religion. God loves people. God calls people to repentance because He knows what is best for them. Love is always in God’s motivation.
October 3 Proverbs 24:5-14 Philippians 4:2-23 Jeremiah 6; 7:1-29
Please read the suggested passages, prayerfully consider them, and the questions below. My comments here may be helpful after those moments. The suggested daily reading is for the purpose of reading through the whole Bible within a year.
Reading the Bible is helpful in taking the next steps to follow Jesus. It may not be easy and yet it can be rewarding. Digging into Scripture alongside people you know is a life-giving way to pursue answers together. We discover the love that God has for us has been expressed through Jesus.
What’s the plain simple truth of the verses you read?
Based on today’s reading, what is one thing God is saying to you?
What should you do about that truth?